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Forensic Disciplines and Methods

Forensic Geology

Also Known As Geoforensics
Criminalistics

The study of evidence relating to materials found in the earth, principally soil and sediment, used to answer questions raised by the legal system, most often to link a suspect, victim or object to a specific location as a form of trace evidence. Ray Murray and John Tedrow's 1975 book Forensic Geology marked the field's formal textbook establishment. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
What It ExaminesSourced to the subject's own account
Soil and sediment particles used to link a suspect, victim or object to a specific location. 1
Formalized Year
1975 1
Sourced to the subject's own accountThe year Ray Murray and John Tedrow, both of Rutgers University, published the textbook Forensic Geology.
Known LimitationSourced to the subject's own account
Color comparison against the Munsell soil chart is a subjective judgment; two examiners can perceive the same soil color differently and associate it with different chart values, affecting the method's accuracy. 1
Discipline
Discipline (category)Sourced to the subject's own account
Forensic Geology 1
Connections

Associated With

Soil and sediment evidence is itself a form of trace evidence.

Source Wikipedia: Forensic Geology

Examines Within

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Forensic Geology
  • Opening paragraph
    Forensic geology is the study of evidence relating to materials found in the Earth used to answer questions raised by the legal system.
  • History section
  • Colour subsection
    Although colour is a very subjective topic, two people can have a complete different perception of colour and could then associate it differently with the Munsell soil chart thus [sic] effecting the accuracy of this method.
  • In Group: Trace Materials Analysis, Lead sentence
    Forensic geology is the study of evidence relating to materials found in the Earth used to answer questions raised by the legal system.
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